Wire-stretcher.



C. NEWLAND.

WIRE STRETGEER.

- APPLIGATION FILED 12h27, 1909.

Patented Jan, 25, 1910.

Witwe/Joao ill l ll WIRE-STRETGI-IER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan.. 25, 12101.

Application led April 27, 1909. Serial No. 492,496.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE T. Niew- LAND, citizen of the United States, residing at Kooskia, in the county of Idaho and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire stretchers and has particular reference to a stretcher to be employed in connection with fences, although the same may be employed in connection with any devices which are to be contracted and to which the device may be` applied.

An object of this invention is to construct a stretcher which is strong and durable so as to withstand great strain during the operation of the same and one which may be easily operated and which will automatically be retained in a stretched position when desired.

The invention further aims the `production of a stretcher of this character which comprises but few operative parts, the operation being mainly dependent upon the chains which are' employed in securing the two members together' which are adapted to be contracted.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fence having the improved stretcher applied thereto and disclosed as being in a stretched position. Fig. 2 is a detailedlview of the stretcher disclosing the same in a semi-closed position, and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the stretcher.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following' description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates an arcuate arm which is provided at its rear extremity with an outwardly curved portion 11 which is provided with a hook 12 for the reception of a chain 13, or the like, for the purpose of securing the arcuate arm 10 to an object which is to be stretched, or upon a stationary object, toward which a wire or the like is to be stretched, as for instance a post. The arcuate arm 10 is so disposed as to extend the curved intermediate portion downwardly and to position the outer end of the same upwardly, `the forward end of the arm 10 being provided with a pair of curved arms 14k which are pivotally mounted thereon and which extend longitudinally from the arm 10. The curved arms 111- are held in parallel relation by means of rivets 15 `or the like which are secured to lthe outer ends of the same and enga-.eje therebetween a shank 16 which is threaded at its outer extremity for the reception of a handle 17 which is formed Of piping or a handle of like suitable structure which possesses sufficient strength.

The curved arms 14 are provided with a bolt 1S which is transversely disposed intermediately through the same and which en gages at its opposite extremities the looped inner extremities of a bail 19 which is thus hingedly supported upon the same. The bail 19 is provided with a chain 2O which is adapted to extend outwardly therefrom and provided with a locking plate 21 which is of elongated formation and provided with a longitudinal slot which is enlarged at its inner extremity to admit of the passage of a chain 22 therethrough, the chain 22 being secured to the object which is to be stretched. The chain 22 is adapted to slide loosely through the inner end of the plate 21 but is adapted to be locked from movement in the plate 21 by the positioning of the same in the outer end of the plate in the reduced extremity of the slot formed therein, the rectangular relation of the adjacent links forming shoulders to prevent passage through the plate 21. The arcuate arm 10 is apertured intermediately as at 23 for the reception of the inner end of a chain 211 which is engaged, through the medium of a second locking plate 25, to the chain 22 inwardly of the locking plate 21 and is adapted to retain the chain 22 in a taut position during the adjustment of the chain 20 and the locking plate 21.

In operation the outer extremities of the chains 13 and 22 are secured to the members to be moved when the chain 22 is drawn taut and held in such position by interlocking engagement with the plate 25. The handle 17 is now thrown outwardly to carry the link 19 and the curved arms 14 therewith to admit of the outward extension of the chain 2O in order to secure the locking plate 21 upon the chain 22 forwardly of the locking plate 25. When in such position the handle 17 is now retracted and caused to draw the chains 2O and 22 inwardly, thus moving the objects to which the chains 13 and 22 are connected and slacking the chain 24 and the portion of the chain 22 disposed between the locking plates 21 and 25. The curved arms 14, which are disposed on the opposite sides of the arcuate arm 10 are swung over upon the same and as the bail 19 is then fulcrumed at a point below the pivotal center of the arms 14 upon the arcuate arm 10, the same effects a binding action and prevents the raising of the curved arms 14 and thus automatically holds the chains 13 and 20 in a taut position. The locking plate 25 is now moved upwardly over the chain 22 until the slack is taken up when it is then secured in position and the handle 17 is again drawn outwardly. In like manner the plate 21 is moved longitudinally of the chain 22 and secured in a new position when the handle 17 is again drawn inwardly and caused to further stretch the members secured to the chains 18 and 22.

It is readily seen that owing to the formation of the arms 10 and 14 and of the disposition of the handle 17 upon the outer eX- tremities of the arms 14 that a great leverage is secured and that the device can be easily operated without the application of great power thereto. Y

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A stretcher of the class described comprising an arcuate arm, a chain carried by said arm adapted to be secured to an object to be stretched, curved arms pivotally connected to the forward end of said arcuate arm, a handle mounted upon the outer extremities of said curved arms, a bail intermediately pivoted on said curved arms, a chain carried by said bail and extended forwardly therefrom, a chain intermediately carried on said arcuate arm and extended forwardly therefrom and a main chain secured to a liXed article and engaged adjustably through the outer ends of said chains on said curved arms and on said arcuate 2. A stretcher as specified comprising an arcuate arm, a chain carried upon the rear end of said arm, a chain forwardly extended from an intermediate point of said arm, curved arms pivotally mounted in parallel on the forward end of said arcuate arm, a bail intermediately hinged on said curved arms, a handle carried in the outer extremities of said curved arms, a chain carried by said bail, locking plates positioned in the outer extremities of said chains on said bail and said arcuate arm and a main chain engaged through said locking plates and secured to an object.

3. A stretcher comprising an arcuate arm adapted to be secured to a wire to be stretched, a pair of curved arms pivotally disposed on the outer end of said arcuate arm, a main chain engaged with a post, a chain carried by said curved arms and :ut justably connected to said main chain to stretch the same upon the swinging of said curved arms and a retaining chain carried by said arcuate arm for adjustably engaging said main chain to retain the same in position when said chain on said curved arms is adjusted.

4. In a device as specified the combination of an arcuate arm secured at one extremity to a wire to be stretched, a pair of curved arms pivotally mounted upon the opposite end of said arcuate arm and adapted to fold backwardly upon the same, a main chain engaged with a ixed object, a retaining chain disposed between the outer end of said chain and an intermediate point on said arcuate arm and a chain carried iutermediatei-y upon said curved arms and adjustably engaged with said main chain to tighten the same.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE T. NEWLAND. [1.. s]

lVitnesses H. J. TAYLOR, L. L. PALMER. 

